62 year old Marilyn Bateman of Vancouver
was shocked last week when while surfing the internet classified site
"Craigslist" she stumbled across an ad for a "Baby for Sale".

The ad described a 7 day old baby as very cute but
unexpected and in need of a good home. The price – $10 000.

Thinking it a hoax, Bateman almost did nothing, but the grandmother
of 5 remained troubled by what she had seen, and that evening, after many hours
of nagging doubt, decided to call the police.

She was rewarded by a late night call from the Vancouver police the next
night, thanking her for her assistance, and telling her that they had taken a
child into protective services.

Police tracked down the cellular number that had been placed
in the ad, and as a team of 10 officers, burst in on the parents in a small apartment, finding the mother nursing the infant child. The father, who admitted to placing
the ad, denied any wrongdoing and explained the ad as a joke. The cellular
number given had come from a phone stolen days earlier.

Police describe the couple as "known to them" and
as a couple struggling with addiction issues.

The father was taken into custody. Police recommended to the
crown a charge of criminal mischief but the father was released without charge
after questioning. Police are considering future charges.

Constable Fanning, of the Vancouver Police said, "The
first thing out of their mouths is that they said it was just a hoax. But, of
course, why was it posted in the first place with a phone number? There's so
many questions here. It's very disturbing on many levels."

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